Wallace State hosts annual Strategic Analysis meeting for business and industry partners
HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State Community College recently had administrators and select instructors present to local businesses and industry during their annual Strategic Analysis Team meeting.
“Wallace State is always interested in improving our students’ experiences in their fields. Our programs sometimes need the latest tool or simulator to help students have the skills they need to be among the most competitive individuals in their program or industry,” said Jimmy Hodges, Wallace State’s Dean of Applied Technologies. “This is an important meeting mandated by the federal Carl D. Perkins Act and an important day for us to get together with some of our industry partners.”
Hodges and Dean of Health Sciences Lisa German spoke at the event in addition to Suzanne Harbin, Director of Advancement.
Wallace State instructors Dr. Allen Keener (occupational therapy assistant), Allen Patterson (emergency medical services) and Jeremy Smith (diesel technology) followed, discussing the importance of the latest equipment/aids and simulators to their programs because of the Perkins Act funds.
Keener demonstrated new equipment his students are prepared to utilize through the program, giving them the opportunity to understand the significance of one having limited mobility or what it’s like to contend with arthritis.
“We are the only accredited OTA program in Alabama and one of five in the surrounding states. We are obtaining this equipment to help meet the standards set by our new accreditation board. In the health profession, we work with people who have difficulties completing their daily activities. This simulator helps our students experience what it’s like to be a geriatric patient and the difficulties they encounter,” Keener said. “You can lecture about something or have students read something in a textbook and write papers, but you don’t know what your patient is going through until you’ve experienced it yourself.”
Keener added that 60 percent of his graduates work in the geriatric field at nursing homes, hospitals or home health care facilities, while others choose to work in the pediatric field.
Patterson demonstrated new equipment his EMS students have to better diagnose patients during emergencies. This comes on the heels of obtaining a state-of-the-art ambulance for the program, giving the students a real-life classroom as they train.
“Paramedics are coming to your house when it’s 2 a.m. and there’s no one else around. They’re the first to diagnose what’s wrong with you and determine what medicine you need,” Patterson said. “I went to paramedic school years ago. You did the bookwork and signed up for clinical. We learned from our mistakes. The knowledge and opportunities our students have in the classroom now is very beneficial and gets you well-prepared.”
Smith discussed all of the long-term and short-term certificates and degrees and opportunities available for students in diesel technology, including plans to add a heavy utility vehicle degree plan.
Smith had the program’s excavator simulator on hand for attendees interact with.
“It’s critical our students have a wide and clear understanding of large engines. We cover lawnmowers to heavy diesel equipment and everything in between. Our job is to keep the big trucks on the road. We have something for our students to do every day, and we send our graduates to the heavy hitters in the industry,” Smith said.
Business and industry representatives at the meeting were also allowed to offer suggestions to the Wallace State administrators and instructors and provided updates about their respective goals and plans.
For more information about Wallace State, visitwww.wallacestate.edu.
###
Pictures:
Wallace State’s Dean of Applied Technologies Jimmy Hodges led the Strategic Analysis meeting, highlighting the college’s programs and industry in attendance.
Dr. Allen Keener provided an update on Wallace State’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
For the second straight year, Allen Patterson demonstrated the new aids available in Wallace State’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program.
Wallace State Diesel Technology instructor Jeremy Smith provided updates about his program during the Strategic Analysis event.
Wallace State’s Diesel Technology program has added a new excavator simulator for its students.
___________________________
Russell Moore
Wallace State Community College
Staff Writer, Communications and Marketing
Speech Adjunct Instructor
256.352.8443 | office
256.339.2422 | mobile
russell.moore@wallacestate.edu
Click here to submit a Marketing request.
______________________________
Kristen Holmes
Assistant to the President for External and Cultural Affairs
Communications | Marketing | Museum | International | Government Affairs
256.352.8118 | office
256.339.2519 | mobile
kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn